Like [[Shukaku]], many people believed that Matatabi was once a human that turned into a {{translation|[[Wikipedia:Ikiryō|living ghost]]|生霊|ikiryō}}.<ref name="d3"/> Matatabi eventually fell into the possession of [[Kumogakure]] and was sealed within [[Yugito Nii]] when she was two years old. She was placed into a detestable training program in order to learn to control Matatabi's power.<ref>Third Databook, page 127</ref> In the anime, Yugito agreed to have [[Nekobaa]] collect Matatabi's paw print for the [[Paw Encyclopaedia]].<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 189</ref> In a cavern behind the [[Falls of Truth]], where [[jinchūriki]] learn to control their tailed beasts' power, there are wall murals of Matatabi and [[Gyūki]], which indicates how long they were associated with the [[Land of Lightning]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 495, pages 16-17</ref><ref>''Naruto'' chapter 496, page 2</ref>

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Like [[Shukaku]], many people believed that Matatabi was once a human that turned into a {{translation|{{W|Ikiryō|living ghost}}|生霊|ikiryō}}.<ref name="d3"/> Matatabi eventually fell into the possession of [[Kumogakure]] and was sealed within [[Yugito Nii]] when she was two years old. She was placed into a detestable training program in order to learn to control Matatabi's power.<ref>Third Databook, page 127</ref> In the anime, Yugito agreed to have [[Nekobaa]] collect Matatabi's paw print for the [[Paw Encyclopaedia]].<ref>''Naruto: Shippūden'' episode 189</ref> In a cavern behind the [[Falls of Truth]], where [[jinchūriki]] learn to control their tailed beasts' power, there are wall murals of Matatabi and [[Gyūki]], which indicates how long they were associated with the [[Land of Lightning]].<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 495, pages 16-17</ref><ref>''Naruto'' chapter 496, page 2</ref>

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== Personality ==

== Personality ==

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Compared to most of the tailed beasts, Matatabi has shown to be respectful and polite towards others, speaking in a formal manner using {{translation|'watashi'|私}} when referring to itself and using honourifics when addressing Naruto while introducing itself to the young man.

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Compared to most of the tailed beasts, Matatabi has shown to be respectful and polite towards others, speaking in a formal manner using {{translation|'watashi'|私}} when referring to itself and using {{W|Japanese honorifics|honourifics}} when addressing Naruto while introducing itself to the young shinobi.

== Appearance ==

== Appearance ==

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Matatabi is a [[Wikipedia:Bakeneko|bakeneko]] that is completely engulfed with wild blue flames. It also has a right yellow eye and a left green eye, similar to an [[Wikipedia:Odd-eyed cat|odd-eyed cat]] without pupils. When forced to transform by [[Tobi]], Matatabi increased in size compared to when [[Yugito]] unleashed it.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 570, page 8</ref> During the last remaining days of the Sage of the Six Paths' life, Matatabi was a young flaming kitten much smaller than its present-day self, but was still much larger than the Sage.<ref name="ch572"/>

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Matatabi is a {{W|bakeneko}} that is completely engulfed with wild blue flames. It also has a right yellow eye and a left green eye, similar to an {{W|odd-eyed cat}} without pupils. When forced to transform by [[Tobi]], Matatabi increased in size compared to when [[Yugito]] unleashed it.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 570, page 8</ref> During the last remaining days of the Sage of the Six Paths' life, Matatabi was a young flaming kitten much smaller than its present-day self, but was still much larger than the Sage.<ref name="ch572"/>

== Abilities ==

== Abilities ==

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== Trivia ==

== Trivia ==

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* {{Translation|'Matatabi'|又旅}} literally means 'travel again', which is probably an adaptation to not only the {{translation|nekomata|猫又}}, but also the Japanese name for [[Wikipedia:Actinidia polygama|silver vine]], a plant noted for having an effect on cats much like that of [[Wikipedia:Nepeta cataria|catnip]].

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* {{Translation|'Matatabi'|又旅}} literally means 'travel again', which is probably an adaptation to not only the {{translation|nekomata|猫又}}, but also the Japanese name for {{W|Actinidia polygama|silver vine}}, a plant noted for having an effect on cats much like that of {{W|Nepeta cataria|catnip}}.

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* Cats are the common species throughout the world, and stories of {{translation|[[Wikipedia:Bakeneko|bakeneko]]|化け猫|monster cats}} are popular throughout Japan. In myth, when a cat reaches a certain age, it grows larger, and its tail becomes longer and forks in two, and is then called a {{translation|nekomata|猫又|forked-cat}}. These cats were said to have the ability to manipulate the dead as if they were puppets, and had been associated with strange fires and occurrences. This may be related to Matatabi's nickname and its fire-breathing abilities.

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* Cats are the common species throughout the world, and stories of {{translation|{{W|bakeneko}}|化け猫|monster cats}} are popular throughout Japan. In myth, when a cat reaches a certain age, it grows larger, and its tail becomes longer and forks in two, and is then called a {{translation|nekomata|猫又|forked-cat}}. These cats were said to have the ability to manipulate the dead as if they were puppets, and had been associated with strange fires and occurrences. This may be related to Matatabi's nickname and its fire-breathing abilities.

Contents

Background

Matatabi first came into being in the waning days of the Sage of the Six Paths, who used his Creation of All Things ability to separate the Ten-Tails' chakra from its body and divide it into nine separate constructs that would come to be known as tailed beasts in order to ensure that it would never resurface after his death.[5][6] Some time after being created, the Sage sat down with all the young tailed beasts and told them that they would always be together, even when separated, and that one day they would become one entity again with different names and forms than they did. Then, when the time came, they would know what true power is.[7]

Matatabi's wall mural inside the Falls of Truth.

Like Shukaku, many people believed that Matatabi was once a human that turned into a Template:W (生霊, ikiryō).[1] Matatabi eventually fell into the possession of Kumogakure and was sealed within Yugito Nii when she was two years old. She was placed into a detestable training program in order to learn to control Matatabi's power.[8] In the anime, Yugito agreed to have Nekobaa collect Matatabi's paw print for the Paw Encyclopaedia.[9] In a cavern behind the Falls of Truth, where jinchūriki learn to control their tailed beasts' power, there are wall murals of Matatabi and Gyūki, which indicates how long they were associated with the Land of Lightning.[10][11]

Personality

Compared to most of the tailed beasts, Matatabi has shown to be respectful and polite towards others, speaking in a formal manner using 'watashi' (私) when referring to itself and using Template:W when addressing Naruto while introducing itself to the young shinobi.

Appearance

Matatabi is a Template:W that is completely engulfed with wild blue flames. It also has a right yellow eye and a left green eye, similar to an Template:W without pupils. When forced to transform by Tobi, Matatabi increased in size compared to when Yugito unleashed it.[12] During the last remaining days of the Sage of the Six Paths' life, Matatabi was a young flaming kitten much smaller than its present-day self, but was still much larger than the Sage.[7]

Abilities

See also: Jinchūriki Forms
As a tailed beast, Matatabi possesses an enormous supply of chakra and is able to create the Tailed Beast Ball. The cat has flexible muscles, which grant it great speed despite its large size.[1] Matatabi's brute strength is enough to initially pummel Kakuzu, who had attempted to use brute force to stop its paw, forcing him to use his Earth Release: Earth Spear to survive the attacks.[13] It is able to breathe fireballs which are powerful enough to destroy a sewer and the building above.[14]

Part II

Hidan and Kakuzu Arc

Soon after her introduction, Yugito was captured by two Akatsuki members, Hidan and Kakuzu, although it is unknown who was specifically assigned to capture her. Despite luring her two pursuers into a closed space, sealing the exits, and transforming herself into the Two-Tails, Yugito was overpowered and rendered unconscious by the two Akatsuki members. Zetsu later arrived to take her off their hands, and she later died as a result of having the tailed beast extracted from her.

Shinobi World War Arc

After Son Gokū is resealed into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Tobi, who is intent on going all-out from this point on, forces Yugito to fully transform into the Two-Tails.[15] Preparing to attack the shinobi, Matatabi along with the other four beasts creates Tailed Beast Balls. These attacks, however, are deflected by Naruto and they are rebuffed by a now fully-transformed Naruto. Wasting no time in their attacks, Matatabi attempts to attack while Kurama is incapacitated by Saiken, but instead has Saiken slammed into it with such force that it is sent flying. With this, the opposing beasts prepare a collaborative Tailed Beast Ball which is met by one from Naruto and Kurama.

As Naruto enters a deeper level of Kurama's consciousness, he meets the remaining five tailed beasts and their jinchūriki. Summoning Naruto before it, it tells the young man that it intended to keep the promise it made to Son Gokū. As it tells Naruto to stretch out his hand, the giant cat introduces itself. Later, as the beast is freed from the chakra receiver, it affirms Kurama's belief that Naruto was the person the Sage of the Six Paths had spoken about so long ago before being resealed into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Trivia

'Matatabi' (又旅) literally means 'travel again', which is probably an adaptation to not only the nekomata (猫又), but also the Japanese name for Template:W, a plant noted for having an effect on cats much like that of Template:W.

Cats are the common species throughout the world, and stories of Template:W (化け猫, monster cats) are popular throughout Japan. In myth, when a cat reaches a certain age, it grows larger, and its tail becomes longer and forks in two, and is then called a nekomata (猫又, forked-cat). These cats were said to have the ability to manipulate the dead as if they were puppets, and had been associated with strange fires and occurrences. This may be related to Matatabi's nickname and its fire-breathing abilities.